Fair February

Even with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we are not turning to the matters of heart just yet… or are we?

I often come across this opinion that home appliances – think anything from toasters and kettles to fridges and washing machines – used to be better back in the day. My mom, for example, swears by her 20+ year-old washing machine, which has been in use since I was in middle school. She’s one careful lady, sure, but she is also not fully convinced by all these new stuff. That got me thinking, is she onto something?

When I moved house about 1.5 years ago, I was, very much to my delight, at liberty to choose new shiny (but eco) electronics of my liking. There is a slight chance that I was more excited about picking my new vacuum cleaner than about the actual apartment (whatever that says about me)… but in my defence, going through a gazillion options was fun: do bagless cleaners generate least waste (lol)? Should it have a water filter? What about energy efficiency??? And this is just one appliance!

While my excitement wasn’t ending, my budget very much was. I focused on getting just the missing essentials, and using some of the items inherited from the previous resident for the time being. This is, partially, how one of this month’s challenges – Make a list of items around my house that will need to be replaced with environment-friendly alternatives once they have run their course¹ – came to the surface. With that in mind, let’s see what the world of dishwashers, fridges, and washing machine has been up to.

In the rapidly advancing world of technology, the convenience and efficiency of modern appliances allegedly come with a price – a reduced lifespan and a shift in the perceived reliability. One argument would be that, historically, household devices were celebrated for their simplicity, making them more accessible for DIY repairs or interventions by handymen. In contrast, the integration of technology has broadened the scope of potential faults, where issue resolution is more intricate and requires specialised knowledge or professional assistance.

Now, there’s another angle to consider: planned obsolescence. This controversial idea suggests that manufacturers design products with flaws to deliberately shorten their lifespan, nudging consumers to buy replacements sooner. Skeptics of this theory point to modern appliances that are nearly impossible to repair, like washers with bearings set into their drums. It is fair to ask then, is the design intentionally so to makes repairs so complex that buying a new one seems like the only option?

Apple, for instance, has been accused of this malpractice for years. In 2018, it faced lawsuits in the US exposing their use of planned obsolescence. The cases revealed that Apple sold devices with faulty batteries and later issued software updates intentionally slowing down device performance. In South Korea, iPhone users claimed malfunctions due to software upgrades, and in France, a court ordered a fresh investigation into Apple’s practices regarding planned obsolescence. The French advocacy group HOP accused Apple of hindering repair programs and remotely diminishing repaired phone performance. So, we can say this theory is not completely out of reach.

Other factors supporting the idea that modern stuff are not built to last as long as their counterparts from decades ago include the outsourcing of components to cheaper manufacturers, a shift towards lighter designs to cut shipping costs, and the dominance of electronic controls over mechanical ones. These changes result in appliances that weigh less, have tighter tolerances, and contain more plastic than metal.

While the decrease in reliability *might* be traced to a couple of specific elements, the cost decline in over-engineered parts has made modern appliances more cost-efficient. However, this doesn’t always translate into direct savings for consumers. The increased complexity of modern appliances, driven by advanced technology, has led to higher failure rates and made repairs more challenging compared to simpler, older models.

There is a silver lining, though. Today’s appliances are more affordable than ever before: a study by the American Enterprise Institute shows that the average home appliance is now three times more affordable than it was in 1981. In other words, If you had to spend a full paycheck on such an item back then, its modern counterpat would only cost a third of your monthly salary nowadays.

But this is not it – we’re living in an era where sustainability runs the show (orrrrr, I would like to think so). With environmental concerns looming large, it’s no surprise that energy-efficient appliances are taking centre stage. Remember the A energy label? That is long gone, we are all about A+, A++, and A+++ now. The good news is that while these appliances might not be eternal, but they’re doing wonders for your wallet and the planet, saving $$$ and energy (does it count as two for the price of one?).

Turning to water, dishwashers and washers would use up lots of it back in the day. Fast forward to today, and things have taken a refreshing turn: sing a dishwasher instead of hand-washing your dishes not only saves time but also a whole lot of water (not always, but in many cases). Why? Once again, it is a win-win – less water wasted and more time – and money, depending on your location – on your hands.

This affordability, coupled with significant energy savings, makes modern appliances more accessible and economical for consumers. So, even if they might not have the longevity of their ancestors, today’s appliances bring a mix of trade-offs — sounds fair enough to me.

When you shop for your next devices, consider the following:

• Mindful Materials: Opt for appliances made from recycled and easily recyclable materials such as glass, steel, brass, and aluminum. Look for non-toxic materials and minimal plastic content, with a preference for appliances incorporating recycled plastic.
• Green Business Practices: Prioritise brands that design energy-efficient appliances.
• Consider Second-Hand Options: Second-hand appliances are often more environmentally friendly but be sure to evaluate the condition – if outdated, newer, energy-efficient models may be a better choice.
• End-of-Life Policies: Check if the manufacturer has a recycling program in place.

1. Full description of this challenge goes: When I need to discard an item – it could be anything from a broken appliance to an empty shampoo bottle – I should know what kind of replacement would be better for the environment. For instance, old kettle could be replaced with a second-hand one with a strong efficiency label and from a brand that runs a collect-and-recycle programme. Likewise, plastic toothbrush heads would be replaced with bamboo ones, laundry sheets would replace bottled detergent, disposable razors would be swapped for reusable safety razors, and so on. ↩︎

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Monday, February 12th

This week was not off to a great start, as I woke up with an annoying headache that kept me in bed practically for the whole day. I managed to get up a couple of times to make tea and have some food but that was practically it.

To sum up, this is the day’s progress:

SUCCESS	FAIL
Vegan food	Aliving
Compost (fruit peels)	Single-use plastic (protein bar + salads)
Unplug devices that are not in use
Five-minute shower (quickest one lol)

Tuesday, February 13th

After sleeping for a million thousand hours, I was looking much more human. To play it safe, I stayed at home for the most part, making use of my amazing TooGoodToGo finds over the weekend.

To sum up, this is today’s progress:

SUCCESS	FAIL
Vegan food	Single-use plastic (salad containers)
Compost (coffee + flowers + peels)
Unplug devices that are not in use
Five-minute shower
Use stairs instead of elevator
Make list of eco-alternatives for home appliances